The order was issued on August 18 after the status conference hearing for Ledgerwood’s DUI case.
Senior Judge Rudimch also set the trial for September 17 and 18 at 9 am in courtroom 105 of Koror’s Judiciary building.Judge Rudimch granted Ledgerwood’s motion to disqualify Copeland and replaced him with Salii.Ledgerwood filed a motion to disqualify Copeland on the grounds of conflict of interest.Ledgerwood, who was represented by Attorney Rachel Dimitruk stated in his motion that Copeland being a former colleague at the AGO and former friend has personal knowledge relating to Ledgerwood’s decision regarding his employment status after the DUI incident.The motion added that Copeland is a potential witness to his case.Senior Judge Rudimch granted the motion on August 5 and disqualified Copeland from prosecuting the case.Ledgerwood also filed a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice to let the new prosecutor re file the case but the court denied the motion.Ledgerwood also filed a motion earlier to disqualify Senior Judge Rudimch.Ledgerwood wanted to recuse the judge from presiding the case on the alleged grounds that she is bias against Copeland because he filed numerous charges against former President Tommy Remengesau, who is Senior Judge Rudimch’s brother.The motion was also denied.Ledgerwood was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving after his vehicle figured in a crash incident on August 29, 2008, at 2 pm.Ledgerwood was under the influence of alcohol when he operated his vehicle and collided later onto a wooden electric pole beside the basketball court at Ngerbodel, Ngerchemai Hamlet in Koror.
